Children's YouTuber Ms Rachel Issues Tearful Apology for Liking Antisemitic Comment
Popular children's entertainer Ms Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, has issued an emotional apology after fans noticed she had liked an antisemitic comment on her own Instagram post. The incident has sparked discussion about online mistakes and accountability for public figures with large followings.
The Controversial Instagram Interaction
The controversy began when Ms Rachel shared a now-deleted Instagram post that read "Free Palestine, Free Sudan, Free Congo, Free Iran." Beneath this post, a comment appeared stating "Free america from the Jews," which the YouTuber appeared to have liked. Alert followers quickly took screenshots and privately messaged the content creator to bring the matter to her attention.
In response to a direct message from a concerned follower who wrote "I'm sure that's an accident so wanted to let you know," Accurso replied: "Deleted – how horrible – oh wait let me check – I did delete one like that ... Ya I believe I deleted that earlier right when I saw it! I hate antisemitism."
Formal Statement and Video Apology
The children's entertainer subsequently issued a formal statement shared with The Independent, explaining: "Yesterday, I accidentally liked a hateful comment on my social media while trying to delete it. I have always been completely clear on this; I do not support language that targets or harms the Jewish community or any community."
She continued with a firm declaration of her values: "Antisemitism and hate of any kind have no place in my life or my work. Everything I do is rooted in kindness, inclusion, and care for all humanity. Those values guide me every day, and I remain firmly committed to them."
Accurso also posted a video apology on Instagram where she became tearful while explaining the error. "I thought I deleted a comment and I accidentally hit 'like,'" she clarified to her followers. "I'm a human who makes mistakes. I feel like we can't be human anymore online. ... Everyone who knows me knows I would never like that."
Community Response and Support
Many followers responded with understanding and support across her social media platforms. One commenter wrote: "Everyone has done it. Please don't beat yourself up," while another added: "Girl it was a mistake. We love you!!!!" This supportive reaction highlights the complex relationship between public figures and their audiences in the digital age.
Ms Rachel's Background and Advocacy Work
Rachel Griffin Accurso has built an impressive audience of nearly 15 million subscribers on YouTube through her educational videos and songs for young children. Beyond her entertainment work, she has become a vocal advocate for children suffering in Gaza, previously telling The Independent about her motivation to speak out.
"I couldn't look away from the scale and gravity of suffering I was seeing every day," she explained in an interview published last year. "I know how crucial the first few years are for brain development and the lifelong effects trauma and malnutrition have on the brain. It's a failure of humanity to deny children food, water, medical care, shelter and education, and to not protect children from violence."
Her activism has included featuring a child from Gaza on her show and wearing a custom gown embroidered with drawings from children in Gaza to Glamour's Women of the Year 2025 Awards. This context adds complexity to the recent controversy, as it demonstrates her established commitment to humanitarian causes while highlighting how easily social media interactions can be misinterpreted.
The incident serves as a reminder of the heightened scrutiny facing online creators and the challenges of navigating social media platforms where simple mistakes can quickly escalate into public controversies.
